Make It Right Now...Not Later

There are two questions that I ask this time every year, maybe you have similar ones;

"What are you going to start doing in the new year?"

"What are you going to stop doing in the new year?"

• I ask these questions of myself. 
• I ask these questions about our family. 
• I ask these questions of our church leadership. 
• I ask these questions of as many people as I can in regard to as many situations as I can. 

In years past these two questions have helped me to get to the heart of what must happen in the year that lies ahead. This morning I sat to reflect on these two areas and to evaluate how I did - personally, as a husband, as a father, and as a church leader. And that's when it hit me, there is a huge problem with these two questions. 

When we sit to evaluate a situation - whether it be a relationship, an attitude, or an action - whether it relates to our life, our family, our home, or our career - if we come to the conclusion that something must start or stop, we must do it immediately! 

The problem with starting something or stopping something in the new year is that we have such a broad time frame to correct it. So this new year's eve, I am changing my questions and will be asking;

"What are you going to start doing today?"

"What are you going to stop doing today?"

Don't aim to make things right in 2013, aim to make them right now!

Are You Happy?

Are you happy? Happiness is a funny thing. It's an emotional feeling that we sometimes take for granted. We all want to be happy and yet, if we stop to think about it - if we were to survey those we interact with - many would admit that they are not all that happy. We have periods of happiness that are often short-lived and are dependent on circumstances or environments that we find ourselves in. We all want to be happy, but not simply happy, we want long-term happiness.

Definition of HAPPINESS

1

obsolete : good fortune : prosperity

2

a : a state of well-being and contentment : joy

b : a pleasurable or satisfying experience

Americans are promised certain things, the Declaration of Independence calls them "inalienable rights", and this documents says that we, as Americans, are endowed with these rights by our Creator. We are promised life, liberty, and "the pursuit of happiness". So, we are given a guarantee for life and for freedom, yet, when it comes to happiness, good luck!

Are you happy?

Because happiness is an emotion and not a tangible thing, the question is often asked; "What will make you happy?" or "What will bring you happiness?" The problem with these questions is that, as human beings, we immediately think of tangible, short-term things - for some this is money, for others it may be food, and still for others it is a possession (house, car, electronic device).

For me happiness comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. It is important that I point out that I am writing about a relationship and not a knowledge or an acceptance of His presence. Happiness in Jesus Christ comes through the knowledge that He came, lived, and died on this earth for us. Happiness in Jesus Christ come through the understanding that He gave up His life so that we can share in His for all of eternity. Happiness come through an acceptance of these things and of Him as our Savior - The One that saves us from our sins. Happiness comes through a relationship with Him as the Lord of our lives and the master of our every way. Happiness comes through a relationship - faithful and committed - with Jesus Christ.

For me happiness comes through God's plan for me - the distinct purpose that He has created me for. Happiness comes through doing the will of God the Father in this life. Happiness comes through an openness to His Holy Spirit - allowing Him to guide my steps and lead my life. Happiness comes through the many blessings that God has given to me - time talents and resources that he has entrusted to me. Happiness comes through God's gift of my wife and family - His call to lead my family as a husband and a father. Happiness comes through our Heavenly Father.

What brings you happiness?

As I look to the start of a new year just around the corner, I am asking myself the question; what can I do to be happier next year than I was this past year. For me - and perhaps for you as well - all of the ingredients for happiness are present. For me it is an attitude of pursuit. How will I pursue happiness? After all, it is an "inalienable right" given to me by my Creator.

Now, rather than answering this question immediately, I encourage you to contemplate on it, pray over it and work at it. Consider all that you have to be happy for; God the Father who has created you in His image - for a distinct purpose - and sustains you by His mighty hand, Jesus Christ who died on your behalf to bring you life and freedom, the Spirit of God who brings you feelings of happiness and joy, and all of the blessings you have of health, relationships, finances, and material possessions. Consider what brings you happiness and decide how you must pursue it. Then make a plan to do just that - and live it out - pursue happiness!

How will you pursue happiness?

May God bless you and keep you. 
May He reveal more of Himself to you. 
May He reveal true happiness to you.
And may He enable you to pursue it always. 

To Church Leaders: Ezekiel 34

God has a high call on these individuals and He has high expectations for them. for pastors and leaders of The Church. In Ezekiel 34 God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the leaders of His people in Israel. Yet this passage is a particularly insightful for the shepherds of His Church today.

Ezekiel 34:1-16;
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them. “‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them. “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

Twas' 11 days before Christmas

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

Journey of Faithfulness: Belief

Luke 1:26-45

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[c] the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

To be used and blessed by God we must be available to Him.

 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

To be used and blessed by God we must believe that he will do what He says He will do.